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NWHL’s Buffalo Beauts Prepare for Draft

The NWHL draft kicks off June 20th at noon. Photo from thephillysportscave.com

Every person who has ever played hockey on any level can tell you – there is nothing more precious than a clean sheet of ice. There is a certain peaceful perfection in the way the lights reflect off of the smooth surface. The blue lines pop from their fresh veneer of water. You breathe in the moment, and prepare to exorcise blood, sweat, and tears in pursuit of glory.

The National Women’s Hockey League is poised on this metaphorical clean sheet as the four teams head into this weekend’s entry draft. This year’s selection order was decided by lottery; subsequent seasons will be based on their record. On Saturday, June 20th, the New York Riveters will make the historic first selection in the draft. Choosing second will be The Connecticut Whale, followed by the Boston Pride, and last to pick will be the Buffalo Beauts.

New York will very likely choose Alex Carpenter, who was named the winner of the 2015 Patty Mamaier award, as the most dominant player in NCAA hockey. Carpenter helped to lead team USA to a silver medal in the 2012 Olympics in Sochii, and it is said that her work with the Team USA program has helped to develop her into a generational player.

Maschmeyer is an exceptional goaltender. Photo from ecachockey.com

If projections are to be believed, Buffalo will go big-time fantasy draft move, and chose a goaltender with their first round pick. It is anticipated that the Beauts will choose Harvard’s Emerance Maschmeyer, whose decorated history makes her the premier netminding prospect in the draft. The Canadian national helped backstop her U18 team to a gold medal in 2012, and Maschmeyer joined Team Canada in the silver medal run in Sweden earlier this year. She also led her third-ranked Crimson team to the National Championship this year, allowing only one goal in the two tournament games leading to the final. Her 1.48 goals against average for Harvard was eighth in the nation, and her .943 save percentage, good enough for fourth. With the first three picks in the draft projected to be skilled scorers, Buffalo would be wise to choose such a consistent goaltender.

Should Boston take Maschmeyer, Buffalo may choose Team USA standout and Northeastern University star, Kendall Coyne. Coyne led the Huskies this season with 52 pts (28 goals, 24 assists,) which included a nation-leading 4

Coyne is a decorated Olympian and skilled forward. Photo from espncdn.com

shorthanded goals. She’s got more gold than California in the 1850s, winning world championships with the Women’s National Team in 2011, 2013, and 2015, along with back-to-back gold medals for the U18 team in 2008 and 2009. Coyne led Team USA in scoring at the Sochii Olympics with two goals and four assists, and her +8 rating was tied for best in the tournament. In choosing Coyne, Buffalo would gain a natural scorer, whose international experience could help to develop her into a great leader.

In the second round, Buffalo is projected to choose another Boston area collegiate athlete – forward Dana Trivigno. Trivigno had a great season for Boston College, scoring at nearly a point-per-game clip. Even while leading the team in penalty minutes, Trivigno was able to stay in the top five in goals, points, and shots, and even managed four power play

Dana Trivigno’s edgy game also allows for scoring. Photo from photoshelter.com

goals, which was good for second most on the team. The feisty forward managed a goal and an assist in the 2015 World Women’s Championships, helping Team USA overcome Canada for the gold medal. Trivigno chippy play likely developed from her days on the Long Island Royals – a prestigious and previously all-male developmental hockey club. Her five years in boys’ hockey probably set the tone for her take-no-shit attitude. From LI, Trivigno went on to play at Shattuck-St. Mary’s – the same prep school attended by NHL superstar Sidney Crosby. Travigno considers herself a playmaker, and a bit more defense-minded than some forwards. Her gold medal pedigree speaks for itself, though; and Trivigno will fit right in to the Blue Collared work ethic Buffalo prides itself on.

With the NHL’s championship parade behind us, and the draft still a week away, I hope everyone will turn their attention to Boston this weekend. The elite athletes represented in the draft are more than worthy of our attention, and while some markets *cough**Buffalo* suffer through some of the darkest days in our sports franchises’ histories, a glimmer of hip sits softly glowing on the horizon. Stay tuned for more information as teams develop rosters and prepare for the October season.